Automatic machine-gun.



Patented l an. 23, I900.

E. rznusrmim. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed July 25, 1898.)

l0 Shasta-Sheet (No Model.)

No. 642,0l8. Patented Jan. 23, I900.v E. TERNSTRUM. AUTOMATIC MACHINEGUN.

(Application filed July 25, 1898.)

I0 Sheets-Shoot 2.

(No Model.)

No. 642,0l8. Patented Jan. 23, I900. E. TERNSTRUM. I AUTOMATIC HAGHINE GUN.

(Application and July as, 1898.)

' I0 Sheets-Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

v No. 642,0I8. Patented Jan. 23, I900. E. TERNSTRUM.

AUTUfiATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed July 26, 1898.) (No Model.) l0 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 642,018, Patented Ian. 23, I900.

E. TEBNSTBDM. AuTomATic mcmm-z aura.

(Application filed July 25, 1898.)

I (No Model.)

"RE w Wilma" I11] 1 l0 Shasta-Sheet 5.

Patented Ian. 23, won;

E. TERNSTBOM.

AUTO$RTIG FHAGHINEEUN.

m shetasneea 5,

(Application filed July 25, 1898.)

(No Modal.)

Nb. 642,0!8. Patented Jan. 23, I900. E. TEmasTmim.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

' (Application filed Jul 25, 139B.) (NqRiodeL) l0 Shaets-Sheet 8.

No. s42 ,o|s. Patented Ian. 23, won. E. TERNSTRUM.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed. Jury 25, 1898.) (No Modal.) 7 l0 Shasta-Sheet 9.

mam

\ Patented Ian. 23, I900. E. TERNSTROM.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed July 26, 1898.)

(No Model.) l0 Sheets-Sheet ID.

NETE -TATES Areas retort.

ERNST TERNSTROM, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

AUTOMATEC MACHINE=GUN.

SPECIFICATION To all whmn, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST TERNs'rRtiM, of 8 Rue Auber, Paris, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Automatic Machine-Guns, in which firing can also be eifected by hand, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic machine-guns in which firing can be done by hand and in which all themovements of the different parts or pieces are effected by the reciprocation of the system of recoil, such reciprocation being produced either by the explosion of the charge of the cartridge in automatic firing or by the crankhandle when firing by hand. 1-.

Not to mention certain structural arrangements which it has in common with some similar well-known automatic weapons my improved machine-gun is mainly characterized by the following innovations: The rocking movement of the locking-levers, which prevent the movable bolt in the breech-piece from moving relatively to the latter in the closed position, is obtained by a resistance-plate acting on projections of the said levers. This arrangement takes the place of the rack actually used. The extractor is combined with a locking-lever, which prevents it from becoming prematurely disengaged from the cartridge and the end of which also serves to raise up the bullet of the cartridge when inserted into the chamber and for the purpose of preventing it from abutting against the edges of thelatter. The movement of thedrum for feeding the cartridges held by a special belt is controlled by a piece capable of being moved longitudinally and which is combined with a spring-butter with an escapement-stop and with a stop for the backward movement. Finally these arrangements are completed, on the one hand, by the special combination of an ejector with the movable breech-piece and the fixed case and, on the otherhand, by the combination of the recoil-spring with the lever for engaging the same, whereby the degree of resistance of the recoil-spring maybe controlled. Besides these novel or improved parts my machine-gun is remarkable as a whole and also on account of its component parts and the operation of the same in relation to each other.

forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,018, dated January 23, 1900. Application filedJuly 25, 1898. Serial No. 686,8 50. (No model-Y v gitudinal section on the axial line of the engine, showing the mechanism in the firing position.' Fig. l is a detail showing a cartridge before its release with the parts engaging it. Figs. 2 to 7 are cross-sections on the lines 1 1,

.2 2, 3 3, 4 4, 5 5, and6 6, respectively, of the iongitudinal section shown in Figs. 1, 1", and 1. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the back cover. Fig. 9 is a vertical section showing the mechanism in the recoil position with some parts omitted. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, with parts in section, showing thefeedmechanism. Figs. 9 and 9 are detail views, from side and end, of portions of said mechanism. Fig. lOis a detail view, in longitudinal section, of the movable breech-piece. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the fixed case. Fig. 12 shows in longitudinal section and in cross-section the bolt of the movable case. Fig. 13 represents the firing-pin in elevation and also in plan. Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively an elevation and a plan of the support for the cartridge-- drum. Figs. 16 and 17 show, respectively, the spindle of the drum and the escapement of the same. Fig. 18 represents the trigger both in elevation and in plan. Fig. 19 shows views of the extractor-locking lever. Fig. 20 represents both in section and in elevation the resistance-plate whereby oscillation of the locking-levers of the movable breech-bolt is obtained. Figs. 21 to .25 are views showing two elements of the metallic cartridgebelt in bottom plan view, in side view, and inend view, respectively. I

The improved machine-gun is composed of two main parts, which are the case, which remains stationaryduring the firing, and the recoil system, which contains the barrel and the closing and firing mechanism. All the movements of the diiferent pieces are elfected by the reciprocation of the recoil system, which isproduced either by theexplosion of the charge in automatic firing or by the handle when firing by hand.

The stationary cases-The whole of the mechanism is inclosed in the stationary case a.,'Figs. 1 to 7 and Fig. 11, which isprovided with guideways for the dilferent pieces and with housings for the spindles on which they rotate. The said case is closed by two covers a. and o .The cover a covers the feed device pivoted, like the cover itself, to th 0 spindle i. 'The cover (1, Figs. 1, 1 19, and 8, covers the back partof the firing device. It is provided at the back with a stock, and it carries the finger and rod of the trigger, the indicator,and theindicator-lever- Thecover a is pivoted to the case by an eccentric spindle 2, provided with .a spring-handle, the hooked end of whichengages in a mortise in the'case, thus insuring the closing position of the eccentric spindle 2. To open the cover a ,one has only to turn half around the springhandle of the said spindle 2. This operation causes the cover a to recede backward and to disengage its pins a from apertures in the case a, Fig. 1. It may then be rocked on its spindle 2.

Breech piece.The breech piece 6 is screwed to the end of the barrel. It contains all the closing, firing, and extracting devices. It is composed of two sides connected togetherin front to be screwed onto the barrel and held together at the center and at the back by cross-pieces. The breech-piece b is guidedin' its movement by pins 13 Figs. 1 and 9, which engage in grooves a provided in the case a, while inward of the sides are guideways b for the bolt 0, Figs. 10 and 12. Toward the back end of the sides are holes 72. for the trunnions of the locking-leversh. The head of the breech-piece carries two projections between which is located a twisted rod b Figs. 1 and 3, intended to actuate a part of the feed device. The bolt 0, having a forward and abackward movement in the guideways b of the breech-piece b, is provided at itsback part with an opening, in which is a roller 0, mounted on a spindle 3. When the roller is actuated by the directing-cam m, it gives to the bolt an additional movement relatively to the movement of the breech-piece b.

The firing mechanism, the extractor, and

the sear are contained in the bolt 0. The firing mechanism comprises a firing-pin d and a percussion-spring e. The shank d of the firing-pin (I, Fig. 13, slides in grooves 0 provided for it in the bolt. It is provided with a pin d which is carried back by the directing-cam m. The firing-pin thus obtains a relative movement with respect to the bolt, whereby the percussion spring 8 maybe compressed. The firing-pin carries also in front 7 the lever f, which is first carried forward by the springf the extractor, is then brought underneath by The extractor is then locked by the said leverin such a manner that it is impossible for it to escape from the rounded edge of the empty cartridge during the first part of the extracting movement-that is to say, until the moment when the bolt begins to be moved relatively to the breech under the action. of the operating-cam m, which is pushed by the locking-lever it only when the latter'is disengaged from the bolt. At this moment when the pressure created by the explosion has already decreased the extractor ceases to be supported by the lever f. The lever carries also at one side a projection f which is for the purpose of raising a little the bullet of the cartridge to be inserted in order to prevent its abutting against the edge of the chamber or in the groove provided in the barrel for the hook of the extractor.

The spring-sear 9, arranged on the bolt, engages the notch d of the firing-pin d. It thus prevents any displacement of the latter relativelyto the bolt until the latter has completely closed the breech. The sear g is disengaged from the firing-pin d when the locking-lever has finished its movement in returning to its closed position. A bell-crank lever h is placed at theside of the breech-piece, and when operated by the lever h (which it engages) the bell crank will revolve on a spindle 5, which passes through the sides of the case a.- The bell-crank lever 72/ serves as an intermediate piece for releasing the sear g by taking under it, Figs. 1 and 5. The other sear g'is released by means of the triggerrodg which is operated by the finger drawing it back at u when firing automatically or by the handle when firing by hand. The trigger-rod g acts on the lever 7L fixed in the case by its spindle 6, by means of a pin A, secured to the rod g and engaging an inclined projection B on the cover a and the other end of the said lever raises the sear g, Fig. 6.

The locking-levers h, arranged behind the bolt 0, serve when the breech is closed to insure the closing of the same when the charge explodes. Their trunnions i and t", Figs. 1 and 6, engage in holes if provided for that purpose in the breech-piece b. The two locking-levers are united by a cylindrical spindle 7, carrying at its middle a roller 9 Each of the levers carries a locking projection hor iv, which come within the sides and place themselves bohind the bolt when the cylindrical spindle rises on account of the rocking movement of the lever when the barrel goes home. When the bolt 0 is in its closed position, the projections 71 and IL4 press against its back end and prevent it from receding relatively to the breech-piece. The breech bis thus securely closed, and the pressure of the discharge is exercised in a line with the axis of the barrel. During the recoil the rocking movement of the locking-levers it takes place in the opposite direction and the locking projections escape from behind the boltand no longer prevent its relative movement with respect to the breech. The locking-levers through the cylindrical spindle 7, which joins them together, and through the roller g mounted on the said spindle, actuate also. the

form of the front and back walls of the said openings and k is so combined with the form of the corresponding faces of the projections'k and k as to obtain a suitable m ovement for the rocking levers. As the projections 70 and k are situated above the trunnions 2' and 'i, the rectilinear movement of the breech-piece '1) determines the rocking movement of the levers 7t. During the recoil the projections k audio only abut against the back walls of the openings k and 70 and after a certain time. Therefore the unlocking of the bolt 0 only begins after the pressure determiued by the explosion has completely ment .to the bolt 0.

subsided.

The direciing-cam.'lhe directing-cam 'm, actuated by the rocking levers and pivoted to a fixed spindle m, gives an additional move- It is formed of two branches arranged in a vertical plane at the center of the case a and which move in the opening of the bolt 0 between the two looking projections h and h. The roller 0 of the bolt 0 and the Cylindrical spindle 7, with the roller 9 of the locking-levers, pass through the groove m of the directing-cam m, so that when the locking-levers oscillate the directing-cam swings and gives to the bolt 0 an additional movement. The forward end m of the directing-cam m compresses during the recoil the firing-pin spring by engaging the pin 61 of the firing-pin (Z by reason of the different positions which the directing-cam m takes relatively to the bolt 0.

The rec0iZ-spring.The recoil-spring n, placed in the case under the breechpiece, brings forward at each operationthe whole of the recoil system. It is mounted at its forward end on a nut n and at its rear end ona trunnion-head n',while a screw-threaded rod n screwed in the nut n serves to regulate the tension of the spring, and at the same time rests on the case at its front end, on which is a handle. The trunnion-head n is pivoted by means of its trunnions n to the piece a, which connects the spring to the breech-piece b. The said piece a is pivoted to the breechpiece by means of the spindle 5, the other end of the piece n pressing on the case a and on the projections s. The piece of carries at each side bosses s which after a certain amount of recoil abut under the sides of the breech-piece b, thus connecting the piece n with the breech-piece and allowing the spring to act directly on the said breechpiece, 'Figs. 1 and 5. This arrangement has been adopted in order to adjust the resistance of the recoil-spring according to the work to be done at the end of the recoil, the bolt striking on a rubber abutment-piece a:,which serves to store the live force remaining in the pieces in motion and to help the barrel going home again. 7

Feed of the cartm'dges.-The cartridges are fed, the extraction of the exploded cartridges, and the expulsion of the latter are effected in six operations, as follows: first, feeding of the belt to the extent of thedistance comprised between the centers of the two cartridges; second, disengagement of a cartridge from the belt; third, removal of the cartridges to the rear of the chamber of the barrel; fourth, insertion of the cartridges in the said chamber; fifth, extraction from the firingchamber of each of the empty cartridges; sixth, expulsion from the feed-drum of each of the empty cartridges.

The feed device acts simultaneously on several cart-ridges, the said cartridges being held in a metal band by yielding cartridge-carriers, which embrace the bodies of the same.

The metal ba nd.The metal feed-band for the ammunition is made up by a series of yielding cartridge-carriers 0, Figs. 21 to 25, the rear end 0 of each of which encircles the cartridge to the extent at about three-fourths of its circumference at the part near the base, while a heelo prevents the cartridge frommoving rearward. The front end 0 encircles the cylindrical part in front of the neck of the cartridge. It is yielding at the side to the shoulder of the cartridge, and its clips at that part are so rounded that when the cartridge is pushed forward the shoulder of the same will tend to climb the rounded part and-open the clip 0 the cartridge then disengagingitself from the carrier.

The middle part of the piece 0 is so constructed as to take the form of the cartridge, and to make it rigid three small spun ribs '1; are given it. The cartridge-carriers are joined together by links to, engaged in the fasteners w of the cartridge-carriers. The metal band thus forms a chain the links of which are spaced equally apart. The said links engage the wings of the feed-drum p, which thus carries the band forward. I will mention that in order to render the band flexible the links must be fixed substantially in line with the centers of the cartridge-carriers.

The feed-drum.The feed-drum p of the feed device is placed above the forward part. of the breech-piece b. It is free to revolve on the spindle z parallel to the axial line of the barrel.

It is provided With wings p, which I s did and 5, mentioned above, being thus effected. At the same time that the bolt cinsertsiac'artridge in the chamber between the twulev'ver wings of the drum a cartridge which is between the two upper wings of the same is dis= engaged from the carrier by the pusher q, pivoted to the breech-piece b by the spindle q; but as the amplitude of the movement of the piece I) is less than that-of the bolt the pusher q only pushes the said cartridge the distance necessary to disengage it from the metal band and leaves it free between the two wings, thus effecting the operation No. 1. The spindle 2, on which the drum revolves, is put in motion by the fork b, Fig. 3, arranged at the upper part of the breech-piece b, Figs. 1 and 3. The said fork actuates the helical parts I) of the spindle 2, which therefore revolves in one direction during the recoil and in the other direction when the barrel returns home. A spring p is placed within the drum and around the spindlez. The said spring is fixed at one end in a ratchet-tube p and at the other end onto an abutment 10, which has pins engaging holes p in the drum p and which serve to carry the latter forward. Another ratchet p is fixed on the spindle W, with which it turns, and thus carries forward the ratchet 12 which compresses the spring 19. The said spring acts, by twisting, to carry forward the drum 1:) and by compression to hold the ratchets fixed in the pawls. The movement of the drum is regulated and limited by the piece 2, which is operated forward and backward by the fork b acting on butters g and (1 It slides on the pivot-rod of the magazine-support. At its upper part the piece 2 carries a spring-butter g and a stop g During the recoil the spring is compressed; but the stop g catches behind the wing of the drum and prevents it from moving. Toward the end of the recoil the fork b touches the butter g and pushes the pieces forward, whereby the stop q is caused to escape from the wing 10, which it was maintaining, and the spring (1 to catch behind the following wing. The drum 1; then revolves to the extent of one-sixth of a revolution. On the barrel returning home, the fork 1) brings the piece 2 back into its first position. The backward movement is prevented by the spring-stop, under which the wing houses itself after having turned one-sixth of a revolution. After each recoil a fresh cartridge is thus brought in line with the barrel in front of the bolt 0.

The expulsion of the empty cartridge.The expulsion of the empty cartridge is eifected by the ejector t, which is fixed to the side of the breech-piece by means of its spindle t, on which it can oscillate. Its lower end enters an opening provided for that purpose in the case, so that the reciprocation of the breechpiece gives to the ejector an oscillating movement, which is greater at its upper end. When the bolt 0 moves back, the extractor carries forward the empty cartridge as far as cartridge, which is thus carried opposite the ejection opening. The ejector-t is at that moment in its extreme rearward position, Fig.

9. During the return of the barrel the lever 25 moves quickly forward, meets the empty cartridge, and ejects it through the ejectionopening t", Fig. 3. v

The cooling of the barrel is effected by means of a certain quantity of water contained in a tube 25 fixed at the head of the case and through which the barrel passes. A stuifingbox in front and in the rear on the barrel prevents the water from running oif, while two valves fixed to the upper part of the tube the one in front and the other in the rear-allow the steam to escape.

The handle y, placed at the outside of the case a, serves to give by hand to the mechanism the same movements as are given it by automatic firing. It is used in loading the drum p and to bring the first cartridge into the barrel, so as to be able to begin automatic firing. The handle 1 is mounted on a shaft g Fig. 7, which passes through the two'sides of the case a. The said shaft carries within the said casing two projections y, Fig. 7, which act on corresponding bosses 3 of the breech-piece b, Figs.'1 and 9, and push the latter once forward and once backward for each complete revolution. When firing by hand, the shot is fired when the projections y abut against the breech-piece and are in axial line with the barrel.

During automatic firing the handle y is fixed by the stop y in such a position that the projection y cannot interfere with the reciprocating movement of the breech-piece.

' Therefore the handle remains stationaryduring all the time automatic firing is continued, and its spindle, which carries the bufier as of the bolt, serves as a point of support for the said buffer.

The exploding device and safety device are as follows: The firing-pin d is held in, its cocked position by the scars g and g. The scar g is automatically raised each time the locking-lever is in its closed position. The scar g is only raised at the time when it is desired to begin firing, as hereinbefore mentioned, by the. trigger-rod 9 which acts on the lever M. For automatic firing the gunner presses his finger on the nose 1!. of the trigger-rod and draws the latter backward. This movement causes the lever k to rock and the sear g to be raised. So long as the trigger-rod is held to the rearward the lever k remains in the same position, and the sear g becomes disengaged each time the barrel is moved home.

For firing by hand the trigger-rod g is at each shot and at the proper time drawn rearwardby the handle y. For that purpose the handle carries a projection g, which at each revolution comes in contact with the end 2:, Fig: 8, of the indicating-lever V. The said e42,01s s lever rocks on-the spindle 'u and acts through its other end a) on a projection of the triggerrod. On the spindle v at the outside, is fixed a handle, by means of which the piece '11 may be turned to put it into the positions of automatic firing, of firing by hand, or of safety. In the latter position the end '0 of.

the lever V houses itself behind a projection of the trigger-rod g and prevents any rearward mevement of the latter, whereby the sear g is'locked.

I claim 1. An improved automatic machine-gun in which firing by hand can be effected by con-' tin uonsly turning a crank, comprising in combination, a stationary frame having an abutment-plate, a breech-piece sliding in the said frame, a bolt sliding in the said breech-piece,

.an oscillating lockin'glever pivoted to the breech-piece and adapted to .release the bolt after a partial backward movement of the breech-piece and when one end of the said locking-lever comes in contact withthe said abutment-plate, and an operating-cam pivoted to the stationary frame, governed by the other end of the locking-lever, and giving the said bolt an additional backward movement relatively to the said breech-piece.

2. An improved automatic machine-gun in which firing by hand can be efiected by continuouslyturning a crank, comprising in combination, a stationary frame having an abutmerit-plate, a breech-piece sliding in the said frame, a bolt sliding inthe said breech-piece,

an oscillating locking-lever pivoted to'the breech-piece and adapted to release the bolt after a partial backward movement of the breech-piece and when one end of the said locking-lever comes in contact with the said abutment-plate, and an operating-cam pivoted to the stationary frame, governed by the other end of the locking-lever, and giving the said bolt an additional backward movement relatively to the said breech-piece, and the firing-pin sliding in the said bolt and adapted for operation by the directing-cam, in such a manner as to give the said firing-pin an additional backward movement relative to the bolt during the backward movement of the breechpiece.

3. In an automatic machine-gun, the combination of a cartridge-extractor mounted on the bolt, and of a spring-controlled locking-. lever for the said extractor, pivoted to the breech-piece and having alockin g part which, under the ,action of the spring, takes under the lip or rim of the extractor when the latter is pushed forward, in order to prevent the extractor from being prematurely separated from the cartridge said locking-lever also having an inclined plane which serves to raise the bullet of the cartridge when being inserted in the chamber of the barrel. 1

sliding breech-piece having a projection and carrying a fork, a rod having helical faces and adapted to be rotated by the said fork, a clutch or ratchet connection which serves to join together the spring-barrel and the said 'rotatin g rod (1 urin g therecoil, a slide mounted on the stationary frame and having two abutment-heels, carried forward by the projection. on' the breech-piece at the end of each stroke of the latter, and carrying a springabutment and an escapement-stop to limit the rotation of the spring-barrel during the recoil, and a stop on the stationary frame for arresting the backward movement of the spring-barrel.

5. In an automatic machine-gun, a stationary frame having a projection, a sliding breech-piece, a lever pivoted to said breechpiece, a spiral spring attached on the one hand to the stationary frame and on the other hand to said lever, the latter engaging at its free end ,the projection of the stationary frame during the first part of the recoil, and being provided with a projection which couples it with the breech-piece during the latter part of. the recoil in such amanner as to suitably control the resistance of the spring.

6. In an automatic machine-gun, a stationary frame, a reciprocating breech-piece, and

an ejector fixed to the side of the breech-piece by means of a stud about which it can oscil late, its lower end being engaged in an opening in the fixed frame in such a manner that the reciprocation of the breech-piece causes the ejector to oscillate.

7. In an automatic machine-gun, an ejector fixed on the side of the breech piece by means of a spindle on which itcan oscillate, its lower end fitting into an opening of the fixed case, so that the reciprocating movement of the breech-piece shall impart to the ejector an oscillating movement amplified at its upper end.

8. In a recoil-operated machine-gun, the combination with the cartridge-drum, and the sliding breech-piece, of an extractor, a locking-lever for preventing a premature separation of the extractor from the cartridge, and means for operating the said lever by the movement of the breechpiece.

9. In a recoil-operated machine-gun, the combination with the cartridge-drum and the sliding breech-piece, of an extractor, a locking-lever for preventing a premature separation 'of the extractor from the cartridge, said locking-lever extending adjacent to the cartridge intlie firing-chamber to guide and center the cartridge during its insertion, and means for operating said lever by the movement of the breech-piece.

Signed at Paris, in the Republic of France,

Witnesses GEORGE LAURENT, Eoehnn WAT'rmn, 

